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Lantana (Lantana camara)

One of Australia's most widespread weeds, lantana forms dense thickets in forests, pasture and riparian country along the east coast and is toxic to livestock.

Key facts

Type: Weed, shrub.

Native to: Central and South America.

Established in: QLD, NSW, VIC, WA, NT.

Best time to act: Treat actively growing plants, ideally before fruiting.

Identification

  • Scrambling shrub usually 2 to 4 m tall, with square stems covered in small curved prickles.
  • Rough, toothed leaves in opposite pairs with a strong smell when crushed.
  • Clusters of small flowers in pink, red, orange, yellow or white, often multi-coloured.
  • Clusters of glossy green berries that ripen purple-black.

Where it grows

Forest edges, rainforest, riparian zones, pasture and disturbed land from Cape York to southern New South Wales.

Why it matters

  • Displaces native vegetation and threatens many native species.
  • Toxic to cattle, sheep and horses.
  • Increases fire intensity at forest edges.

How it spreads

  • Birds and other animals eat the fruit and spread seed.
  • Dumped garden waste.

Control options

  • Hand pull or grub small plants, removing the crown.
  • Foliar, basal bark or cut stump treatment with registered herbicides.
  • Mechanical clearing, fire or splatter gun application for large infestations, followed by revegetation.
  • Several biological control agents are established in Queensland.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Remove berries and stem material from machinery before leaving an infested site.
  • Inspect and clean vehicles, plant and footwear before leaving an infested area, paying attention to tyres, radiators, belly plates, tracks and floor mats.
  • Wash down at a designated bay where runoff is contained and can be monitored for seedlings.
  • Record each washdown so the client has evidence of clean entry and exit.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): Weed of National Significance. One of 32 nationally agreed priority weeds, managed through national strategies with all states and territories.
  • Queensland: Restricted matter, category 3. Do not give it away, sell or release it into the environment. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: Sale prohibited; Regional priority in 2 of 11 regions. It must not be imported into NSW or sold anywhere in the state. Regional priority weed in Hunter, South East. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Restricted weed. Where it is a restricted weed, trade in it (including the plant, its seed or contaminated material) is prohibited.
  • South Australia: Declared plant. Depending on the declaration, it can be an offence to move it on public roads or sell it, and landowners may be required to control it on their land.
  • Western Australia: Declared pest (C3). C3 Management: landholders must manage it to reduce its impact and stop it spreading.
  • Tasmania: Declared weed. Property managers are required by law to control declared weeds, and their import and sale are prohibited.
  • Northern Territory: Declared weed, Class B. Class B: growth and spread must be controlled. All declared weeds are also Class C, so they must not be brought into the NT.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Declared pest, prohibited. It is a declared pest throughout the ACT. Dealing with it, such as selling, moving or keeping it, is prohibited.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • Queensland: Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld), administered by Biosecurity Queensland (13 25 23)
  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria
  • Western Australia: Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (WA), administered by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Northern Territory: Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976 (NT), administered by NT Department of Lands, Planning and Environment

Sources